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In memory of

Theodore Charles Berg

Boulder Creek, CA

September 15, 1950 - June 29, 2019

Sep 15, 1950 - Jun 29, 2019

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On Saturday, June 29, 2019, Theodore “Ted” Berg, loving husband and father of three
children, passed away at the age of 68. Ted was born on September 15, 1950 in
Woodland, California to Ted and Viola (Wilson) Berg. Ted graduated from Woodland
High School in 1968, where he was a member of the Honor’s Society and received an
academic scholarship to attend the University of California at Davis.
Ted met Brenda Bell in high school when they had a senior English class together.
Being placed next to classmates alphabetically, Bell and Berg where right next to one
another. Ted came to class one day with stitches in his mouth from a water polo hockey
accident. Brenda delighted in making Ted laugh, which caused a certain level of
discomfort and a “Don’t make me laugh!” from Ted. One day, Ted overheard Brenda, a
dedicated visual artist and thespian, talking to a friend about needing more responsible
people on her Props Committee for Music Man. Ted volunteered, tuned out to be
indeed responsible, and the love of Brenda’s life.

Recently celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Ted married Brenda on March
1,1969 at American Lutheran Church, where Ted was Baptized and was an active
member throughout his early life. Ted and Brenda raised a daughter and two sons,
Heather, Ted Jr., and Donald Breck, who joined their family in his early teens.
Ted joined the Air Force in May of 1971 and trained with the 85th Engineering
Installation Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Serving his
country with distinction, Ted was transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base’s remote
Western Range Operations Communications and Information Station. In 1976, Ted
received the USAF Commendation Medal for quickly reacting to a malfunctioning
satellite, managing midorbit corrections. His intervention prevented destruction of the
satellite and potential human casualties.

After seven years in the Air Force, Ted moved to San Jose with his family where he
grew his career in the semiconductor industry. Ted spent his last sixteen years working
at Stanford University’s Nano Fab as a Senior Engineering Associate, his favorite job of
his long career. Ted enjoyed working with unique doctoral candidates that would go on
to change the world for the better, and with his circle of remarkable colleagues, who
worked together in an environment of positive leadership, collaboration, support and
sincere friendship.

A Memory from Heather: My Dad and I were always early risers, so on Saturday
mornings, we’d sneak out of the house early and head off to San Jose’s “The
World’s Largest Flea Market,” where we’d comb through the isles looking for
treasures both new and used. Dad was a bargain hunter and even better
negotiator. I learned plenty during these crisp morning excursions which would
serve me well into my adult life. As the sun would start to warm the black pavement
of the flea market isles, Dad would finally feel like he’d collected as many bargains
as we could hold, then we’d head back to the car with our treasures. The trip would
continue with the weekly grocery store shopping and would finally end at our local
donut shop around the corner. Dad and I would eat our first-choice donuts on the
way home, savoring the sweetness and judging the cook’s skills, a quiet satisfaction
with our morning’s spoils. We’d discuss the week’s dinners, which I’d
inevitably be in the kitchen with him preparing. It was always about the next meal in
our family! I delighted in spending these quiet mornings together. By the time we
would make it back home from these Saturday morning excursions, the house
would be bustling with activity. Mom and my brothers would be starting their days
and the donuts would be greedily devoured. Those mornings eventually
disappeared as I grew up and moved on with my adult life. I am still an early
morning person and I always knew in those quiet moments at 4 am, my Dad would
be up, too. Those moments made me smile. I will always cherish the many
memories of my father and know I’m blessed that he was my Dad. He will be so
deeply missed and forever loved.

Ted enjoyed having grandchildren, all twelve of them: Niamh, Noah, Allegria, Raven,
Rhiannon, Savanna, Alyssa, DJ, Heather, Melissa, Megan and Jennifer. For Ted, having
grandchildren meant sitting on the floor for mini tea parties, trips to Foster’s Freeze for ice
cream cones dipped in chocolate, family flea market adventures, fishy lunches at the
beach, bumper cars at the Boardwalk, and a delightful time together. Ted’s great
grandchildren Ellie, Madison, Sophia, Calvin, Lily, Ruby, Bonnie and Peter blessed Ted
with more short-people birthday parties, a growing family, fun antics and love.
Ted loved being with his family and good friends. He enjoyed music and signing,
particularly Iron Butterfly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and anything by Elvis Presley or Willie
Nelson. Meeting interesting people and visiting foreign countries were some of his
favorite pastimes. Speaking several languages and a flea market connoisseur, Ted
delighted and amused shopkeepers and flea market vendors throughout the world with
his ability to quickly pick up phrases necessary for friendly banter and hard bargaining. He
brightened the lives of many and touched their lives for the better. He will be greatly
missed.

Ted leaves behind his family: His beloved wife, Brenda Berg and Ted’s dog Yoli; their
children Heather Gordon and partner Michael Garrison; Ted Berg Jr. and fiancé, Jessica
Dillard, Don Breck and wife Leona Breck; his brother, Gerald Berg and wife Patricia
Gouveia, brother-in-law Kermit Scott, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ted is preceded in
death by his parents, Viola and Ted Berg, his sister Barbara (Klenzendorf) Scott, and
brother Henry “Buddy” Klenzendorf and sister in law, Blanche (Perata) Klenzendorf.

Please share your memories with Brenda and his other loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Memory of Ted Berg to the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter
at 2200 7th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

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